Ambedkar’s 22 Vows

1. Breaking with Oppression

The first 5 vows reject Hindu deities, rituals, and caste authority.

• Example: “I shall have no faith in Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh.”

• Meaning: Liberation begins by cutting ties with the religious ideology that justified caste oppression.

2. Rejecting Inequality

Several vows directly renounce practices that sustain caste:

• “I shall not perform Shraddha (ancestral rites) or Pind-daan.”

• “I renounce faith in the reincarnation of the soul and rebirth.”

• Meaning: Social injustice is not destiny or karma; it’s man-made, and can be changed by human action.

3. Affirming the Buddha’s Path

Ambedkarites vow to take refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, and to follow the Eightfold Path and Ten Paramitas (Perfections).

• This reorients life around wisdom, compassion, and collective practice — not ritual or superstition.

4. Creating Social Equality

The vows explicitly link personal morality with social justice:

• “I shall endeavor to establish equality.”

• “I shall have compassion and love for all living beings.”

• Meaning: Justice is not only a political goal; it’s the heart of Buddhist ethics.

5. Commitment to Rationality

One vow states:

• “I shall believe in the equality of man.”

• “I shall not allow any ceremonies to be performed by Brahmins.”
This represents a turn to rationalism, equality, and dignity as guiding principles.

6. A Living Code for Justice

Ambedkar concluded with:

• “I shall strive to follow the Noble Eightfold Path and practice compassion.”

• “I renounce Hinduism which is harmful to humanity, and adopt Buddhism as my religion.”

This wasn’t just spiritual — it was a collective declaration of independence from caste oppression and a pledge to live by justice, democracy, and compassion.

Summary
The 22 Vows are a blueprint for Ambedkarite Buddhism as a just society in practice:

• Reject oppression (Hindu caste hierarchy, superstition).

• Affirm equality (universal human dignity).

• Commit to justice (educate, agitate, organize).

• Practice compassion (both individually and collectively).